Terrace outlet



April 13, 1937. Q Q BUMPAS ET AL 2,077,308

TERRACE OUTLET Filed Jan. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [nvenlors I Qafianzpa-s April 13; 9 7- o. c. BUMPAS ET AL TERRACE OUTLET Filed Jan. 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MM 2 c0557 [nuenlor 0; (IBzunpaa 1 I a I v anal 5 A lforneys' I Jz-Jm'ZZs w Byguw T RRA Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Orville C. Bumpas and William J. Mills, Braden,

Tenn.

Application January 14, 1936, Serial No. 59,146

2 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to agricultural terracing with controlled run-01f, the invention being concerned primarily with the provision of means whereby during excessive rains and when the terraces can no longer absorb and retard the run-off the surplus water in one terrace may be let down to the level of the succeeding terrace in a manner to prevent erosion.

Briefly the invention consists in the provision of an outlet drum which can be readily set in an excavation in one terrace and so arranged that excess water in that terrace may spill through the drum to the next succeeding terrace or to any safe level as will preclude the occurrence of erosion.

Further the invention consists in the provision of novel means for anchoring the outlet or spillway in position.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating an application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view further illustrating the invention, and taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail View taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the excavation with the outlet removed and Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating a slightly modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that in the preferred embodiment the terrace outlet or spillway indicated generally by the reference numeral H3 is in the form of a cylinder or drum, constructed preferably of metal and adapted to fit within an excavation suitably provided in the crest of a terrace, indicated generally at I3, and at the junction of the run-off channel or spillway 52 leading from the next preceding upper terrace, and the spillway or run-off channel H for the terrace l3 and leading to the next succeeding lower terrace outlet.

As shown the drum it has an upper edge portion of its wall removed as at M to provide an inlet through which the water from the run-01f channel or spillway it. enters the drum It.

Also in the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive the drum it has adjacent the lower edge portion of its wall a part removed as at l5 so as to provide an outlet through 5 which the water from the drum l0 passes into the run-off channel or spillway II. In this connection it will also be noted that below the outlet l5 the peripheral wall of the drum ill forms a substantially arcuate baflie i512 which gives to the drum it the tendency to function as a still basin, thereby retarding to a material extent the flow of the water and the consequent force thereof, all of which tends to prevent soil erosion.

Further in accordance with the present invention the drum Ill is anchored within the excavation provided therefor through the medium of poured or run-in place concrete anchoring blocks l6 set into the crest (properly indicated) of the terrace, and also through the medium of a poured or run-in place arcuate concrete slab H which is disposed concentric to the drum i0 and extends from one slab is to the other. Reinforcing steel or other suitable fastening devices are employed for positively securing the drum. H! to the blocks It and slab H, such fastening devices being indicated generally at I8.

After the drum ID has been properly positioned within the excavation provided therefor a concrete floor or apron ill for the drum is poured. In actual practice the apron I9 will extend to a depth of from three to four inches within the drum I ll to serve as a reinforcement for the drum and an additional anchorage means therefor.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that with the drum It] thus positioned and anchored in place, surplus water, resulting for example, from excessive rains, from the next uppermost terrace will flow through the run-01f channel l2 into the drum l8 through the opening I l in the outlet, and from the drum It will flow through the opening 55 of the drum into the run-01f channel H to be directed or carried away to the level of the next succeeding terrace or to any safe level where soil erosion will not occur.

It will be further understood, that in actual practice, each terrace may be provided with a desired number of drums l0, and that the drums it will progressively increase in diameter in the order of descent of the terraces so that, for example the drums of smallest diameter 'will be in the upper terrace and the drums of greatest diameter will be in the lowermost terrace. Thus the size of the drums regardless of design, increases directly in proportion to the increase in run-off acres.

An advantage of terrace drum structures involving the features of the present invention is that the drums Ill can be formed in any place remote from the terraces thus obviating the necessity of building the drums at the place or point of use as is now required where concrete or similarly constructed outlets are employed.

Further the drums l being of various diameters they can be transported economically in that a number of such drums may be nested one Within the other thus requiring but small storage space.

In Figure 5 a slightly modified form of the invention is shown, this form of the invention differing from the form shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive only in that at the downstream side of the terrace the drum 10a has the major portion of its peripheral wall removed so as to provide a larger discharge opening [5a. At the opene ing I5a opposed portions of the peripheral wall of the drum Illa are braced with respect to one another through the medium of a brace rod 20. In all other respects the drum Illa is similar in construction to the herein described drum II).

It is-thought that from the foregoing a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of the invention will be had.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In agricultural terracing, a terrace outlet by carrying ofi the surplus water of a terrace to the level of the next succeeding terrace, said outlet comprising a substantially cylindrical drum adapted to be anchored in an excavation in the terrace and having a portion of the upper edge of its peripheral wall cut away to form an inlet for the drum, and at a diametrically opposite point in its periphery adjacent its bottom an outlet from the drum, whereby the excess water from the terrace will spill into the drum through the inlet of the drum and pass from the drum through the outlet of the latter to the next succeeding terrace or ground level.

2. In agricultural terracing, a terrace outlet for carrying off the surplus water of a terrace to the level of the next succeeding terrace, said outlet comprising a substantially cylindrical drum adapted to be anchored in an excavation in the terrace and having at one point in its periphery and adjacent its upper edge an inlet for the drum, and at a diametrically opposite point in its periphery and adjacent its bottom an outlet for the drum, and a bafile formed by the peripheral wall of the drum below the outlet, whereby the flow of water passing from the outlet is retarded.

ORVILLE C. BUMPAS. WILLIAM J. MILLS. 

